Multiple sclerosis: Types and treatments

The first neurological incident indicative of multiple sclerosis is called as Clinically Isolated Syndrome or CIS. It lasts for a minimum of twenty-four hours. It is characterized by a single or multiple lesions in the central nervous system.

Based on the way this manifests in the body, multiple sclerosis can be classified into four types.

– Relapse Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS): This is the most common form of multiple sclerosis and is characterized by relapses during which new symptoms make an appearance.

– Secondary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS): This is where the disease constantly progresses with time and the symptoms worsen with or without relapses and remissions.

– Primary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS): This is experienced by a small number of those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis where the symptoms steadily keep getting worse, but there are no relapses or remissions at all.

– Progressive-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS): This is the rarest form of multiple sclerosis. In this type, the disease gets worse day after day, but there are no remissions, only acute relapses.

With regard to treatment, multiple sclerosis needs to be treated the moment it is diagnosed or right after CIS because the disease is found to cause more harm in the initial periods. Multiple sclerosis drugs are now available to help reduce the frequency of relapses and slow progression of the disease. Some treatments are given via injections, either under the skin or into the muscle, and some are given intravenously or orally. Beta interferons are considered a good form of the relapsing multiple sclerosis treatments available and is administered as either subcutaneous or intramuscular injections with dosage varying from once a week to once every two days. Glatiramer acetate is also a relapsing multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis drugs are now available to help reduce the frequency of relapses and slow progression of the disease. Some treatments are given via injections, either under the skin or into the muscle, while some are given intravenously or orally.
Beta interferons are considered a good form of relapsing multiple sclerosis treatments with the treatment administered as either subcutaneous or intramuscular injections with dosage varying from once a week to once every two days.
Glatiramer acetate is another treatment for multiple sclerosis that is injected under the skin. This is one of the types of multiple sclerosis treatments that is used on patients whose symptoms appear consistent with those of multiple sclerosis after an MRI scan.
Fingolimod is a type of multiple sclerosis drugs available in the form of a capsule. It should be ingested once a day to help reduce the frequency of relapses and delay the inevitable physical disability that characterizes multiple sclerosis.